Chapter 274: The Sapphire

**Thelma Zane’s Perspective** By the time we left the boutique, Avril had managed to narrow down her choices—though not nearly enough. She still clung to at least ten fabric samples, each as beautiful as the last, and seemed utterly torn about which to pick. “I promise I’ll make up my mind tonight,” she declared with determination. “Tomorrow, we’ll finalize everything in less than two hours!” I wasn’t so confident. Knowing Avril, her indecision wouldn’t resolve itself overnight. After all, I’d seen her photo album earlier—it was packed with no fewer than seventy wedding dress designs, all bookmarked and labeled. Later that night, as we relaxed in my room, sipping tea and chatting, I decided to ask my companions how they were settling into palace life. “How are you both adapting to living here?” I asked, curious about their experience so far. Jordin was the first to speak, as blunt and honest as ever. “To be honest, it’s a little intimidating,” she admitted. “Everyone